For the last 23 years, the Active Transportation Alliance has created thousands of new bike commuters each year through the Bike Commuter Challenge. The Challenge promotes bike commuting as an activity that is easy, fun and environmentally-friendly. Throughout the Challenge’s long history, it has been under the enthusiastic guidance of the Team Leader – our bike commuting evangelists – to […]

Last week, Wayne Township residents and elected officials came together to brainstorm ideas for making the six-community area in Chicago's Northwest Suburbs safer and more accessible for cyclists. The enthusiastic crowd identified opportunities for new side paths, trail connections, on-street bicycle lanes and signage pointing the way to shops and downtowns. Residents enjoy riding the trails in the area – […]

UPDATE: Check out our Clybourn Complete Street Project factsheet for background information and options for improving the street. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will hold a public meeting on the proposed Clybourn Avenue Complete Streets Project on Thursday July 24 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at Near North Unity Program, […]

We’re getting more and more excited about the Bloomingdale Trail, especially with the recent announcement that the Trust for Public Land has acquired land for a sixth neighborhood park connected to the trail. The more than four-acre park will be located at the current site of the Magid Glove factory (1800 N. Ridgeway Ave.), adjacent to the Bloomingdale Trail’s western […]

The Chicago region’s public transit system is long overdue for an upgrade. There are too many gaps that prevent people from moving around the region and getting to work, school and other destinations on time. Many existing lines are outdated and in disrepair, disrupting riders' lives and schedules every day. Meanwhile, too many residents are forced into their cars, where […]

Keep your eyes peeled for the Revolution Brewery pedicab around Chicago so you can snap a picture and get entered into a raffle to win two VIP tickets to Bike to Brew Saturday, July 26. If you dig bikes and beer, this is your summer party opportunity. Bike to Brew offers a fun bike ride starting at Daley Plaza and […]

  The Bike Commuter Challenge is a week-long annual event produced by the Active Transportation Alliance. In 2014, 6,000 participants from 650 Chicagoland companies and organizations — including Groupon and Orbitz — took part in this event that allows workplaces to compete against one another to see who can get the most people biking to work. Participation is easy — […]

  A big part of the work we do at the Active Transportation Alliance involves educating the public about our goals of better biking, walking and transit. We're a trusted local authority on these issues, and that's reflected by the media coverage about our campaigns, advocacy work and events. By getting the word out in local media, we invite more […]

Catching up with Christian Vande Velde By Jeffrey S. Levine   It would be impossible to count the miles Christian Vande Velde has pedaled on his journey from the suburbs of Chicago to Spain and back. During his 16-year career as a professional bike racer, Vande Velde took home first place at the 2006 Tour de Luxembourg, first at the […]

Active Trans shares regular updates on Chicago’s Lakefront Trail conditions as a service to thousands of daily trail users. Our updates cover trail conditions, events and activities that impact the trail, detours and trail-related news. We gather our information from our staff, partners and everyday trail users. Follow trail updates In addition to watching the news feed to the right, […]